The Sunriver Service District extended job offers to two candidates for the open police and fire chief positions there.

Job offers were sent Tuesday to Bend Police Capt. Cory Darling and Redmond Fire Chief Tim Moor.

The offers are contingent on the candidates successfully passing background checks and medical and psychological evaluations, according to Debbie Baker, service district board administrator.

The service district, which oversees the police and fire departments, hopes to officially hire the two men by July 1, if not sooner, Baker said. Salaries will also have to be negotiated, she said.

Both men were finalists for the positions and went through three separate interviews and a meet-and-greet with Sunriver residents.

Moor has served as fire chief in Redmond since 2007, when he was promoted within the department from his position as division chief. He would replace former Fire Chief Art Hatch, who retired in August.

Darling, who has worked with Bend Police for 27 years, is familiar with the job. He served as interim chief during the investigation that led to the resignation of Chief Marc Mills in February.

Darling was initially appointed in December to serve as the interim chief after Mills was placed on paid administrative leave, pending an internal investigation by the Sunriver Service District and an Oregon Department of Justice criminal investigation.

The investigations found Mills had struck one of his sergeants in the chest with a Citizens Patrol sign while on duty.

The physical altercation Dec. 1 was witnessed by a Sunriver Police staff.

Mills was sentenced in March and ordered to pay a $100 fine after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of harassment.

In his time with Bend Police, Darling has held multiple positions, including his current role as the support services division commander.

Darling has served as a patrol team supervisor, narcotics investigator, SWAT team member and leader, patrol officer, traffic team officer and commander of the patrol division.

“He is highly qualified and respected public safety leader,” Bend Police Chief Jim Porter said in December.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, kspurr@bendbulletin.com